Autoblog

Robust pickup, sedan sales expected to power 2013 sales gains

Jeffrey N. Ross — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 18:31:00 EST

We're only a month into the 2013 calendar year, but with January's strong sales continuing the momentum from 2012, some are already predicting that this year will be the best sales year since start of the recession. According to Automotive News, the two main vehicle segments expected to drive sales in 2013 are full-size pickup trucks and family sedans.

January saw monthly sales top one million units for the first time since 2008, and these figures have led analysts to peg their annual sales projections between 15 million and 15.5 million total units in the US, fed by increased sedan and truck sales to the tune of 19 percent and 25 percent, respectively.

These projections are undoubtedly bolstered by a batch of important new midsize cars hitting the market like the redesigned Fusion, Altima and Accord and new trucks like the refreshed Ram 1500 and Ford F-150, but there will also be plenty of new offerings in both segments this year, including the all-new Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra, the updated 2014 Toyota Tundra and smaller-volume cars like the 2014 Mazda6.

Robust pickup, sedan sales expected to power 2013 sales gains originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 05 Feb 2013 18:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Analysts predicting up to 14M auto sales in 2012

Zach Bowman — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 17:35:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Etc., Earnings/Financials

Automotive industry analysts are projecting a better sales year in 2012. According to Automotive News, a number of culminating factors could see sales of up to 14 million units next year. That's thanks to factors like decreasing unemployment, improved credit availability and a larger portion of the population looking to replace older vehicles. Don't think that means the overall economy will be any stronger next year, however. According to the studies, buyers have simply grown more callous to news of repeated financial crises and aren't likely to let that news impact their new vehicle purchases. While the ink hasn't dried on 2011's sales figures, the national tally is expected to wind up somewhere around 12.6-12.7 million new car sales.

That view is largely based on a scenario that played out earlier this year. When Congress faced off over the nation's debt ceiling, the Dow Jones Index plummeted by 1,500 points. In the past, that would have translated into decreased auto sales, but the numbers have stayed steady this year.

Throw in pent-up demand from buyers waiting for sunnier economic times and more free-flowing credit and automakers may just meet the 14 million unit mark.

Analysts predicting up to 14M auto sales in 2012 originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 28 Dec 2011 17:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Chery to (finally) invade Europe after 2015

Chris Shunk — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 08:01:00 EST

Filed under: China, Europe, Chery

Chinese automakers have had a heck of a time trying to crack the crowded European vehicle market, but Chery is hoping to change that in a few years. Automotive News reports that Chery is hoping to take up shop in Europe sometime after 2015.

Chery Deputy General Manager Lu Jianhui reportedly provided the 2015 timeline as the planned date to offer the brand in Europe, but added "we are still focusing on Russia and South America, among others, as our major export markets." Chery is already moving a lot of metal in those emerging markets, with a planned 180,000 vehicles for export in 2011. The automaker hopes to bump that sum closer to one million vehicles before the decade is out.

The 2015 timeline comes after news of a joint venture between Chery and Israel Corp to build three vehicles. The 1.5-billion-euro project would result in vehicles to be sold in China, followed by European sales one year later.

Chery to (finally) invade Europe after 2015 originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 13 Oct 2011 08:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Summer Sales Boom: J.D. Power predicts August sales will jump to 1.1 million units

Chris Shunk — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 16:28:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Government/Legal, Earnings/Financials

2009 has been a sales disaster for the automotive world, as industry figures have dropped to the lowest levels in three decades. Cash for Clunkers has been a boon for the otherwise poor year, though, as hundreds of thousands of Americans have traded in their old cars for new, more fuel efficient metal.

J.D. Power has analyzed sales data from 10,000 dealers over the first two weeks of August, and the industry research powerhouse feels the program will boost August sales to 1.1 million units. Even better, their analysts have informed The Associated Press that the bulk of those sales will come from retail customers, with total sales of over 1 million units. If Power is right, August sales would rise 2% over August 2008, making it the first year-over-year monthly sales bump in two years.

Power reportedly feels so good about the effects of the popular program that it has lifted its 2009 sales forecast to 10.3 million sales, up 300,000 units from its April projections. The research firm does feel that C4C has pulled ahead some sales, however, so it is downgrading its 2010 forecast to 11.5 million units from a previous estimate of 11.6 million.

The Cash for Clunkers program ends Monday at 8 pm.

[Source: MLive | Image: Paul J. Richards/AFP/Getty]

Summer Sales Boom: J.D. Power predicts August sales will jump to 1.1 million units originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 21 Aug 2009 16:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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GM first to sell a million cars in China in one year

Chris Shunk — Sat, 22 Dec 2007 16:59:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, China, Buick, GM

GM is in a market share dogfight here in the States, but in emerging markets like China, the General is quickly gaining a strong foothold. Rick Wagoner and company are progressing so splendidly in the world's fastest-growing market that the automaker became the first manufacturer to sell one million units within a calender year. That millionth vehicle was a Buick Park Avenue, which is fitting since Buick is hugely popular in the land of the Great Wall. The speed with which the General attained this level of success is impressive as well, as GM sold 100,000 units five years earlier.

With a population of 1.6 billion and an insatiable appetite for automobiles, China seems like as good a place as any for GM to increase its global automotive presence. With more and more automakers turning their attention (and funding) to China, however, GM's exponential growth since 2002 will likely begin to stabilize. For now, however, China is to GM what the US was back in the 60s and 70s.

[Source: GM]

Continue reading GM first to sell a million cars in China in one year

GM first to sell a million cars in China in one year originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 22 Dec 2007 16:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Jeep Compass comes in below projections

Erin Mays — Tue, 10 Oct 2006 07:32:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Budget, Crossover, Jeep

The Chrysler Group has gotten tons of PR mileage out of the popularity of the Dodge Caliber, to the point where dealers haven't been able to keep them in stock and consumers have to beg for a test drive (new Calibers net more profit than demos, after all). Unfortunately for the automaker, the Caliber's stablemate, the Jeep Compass, isn't enjoying the same successes. As the first car-based Jeep to hit the streets, the Caliber's sales have been lower than projected despite the vehicle's distinctive styling and sharp interior. The problem seems to be the 2006 models glutting dealer lots, giving potential Compass buyers food for thought -- a 2007 Compass doesn't represent the same kind of deal as, say, a loaded up 2006 Jeep Liberty.

Automotive News reports that the transaction price of the Dodge Caliber has risen since its introduction, beginning at $17,059 in March and then up to $18,276 by the end of September, while the Compass' price has lowered from $22,467 at launch to $21,534.

Jeep has quite a predicament on its hands if the Liberty and even Grand Cherokee are cannibalizing Compass sales -- evidently yet another drawback to Chrysler's resistance to cutting production when showrooms first started clogging up. We'll see how the situation evolves when the Patriot comes out.

[Source: Automotive News via AutoWeek]

Jeep Compass comes in below projections originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 10 Oct 2006 07:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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GM expects 2006 to be a solid year

Stuart Waterman — Wed, 13 Sep 2006 13:05:00 EST

Filed under: SUV, Truck, GM

While crosstown rival Ford Motor struggles to find its Way Forward, General Motors seems to be making solid progress with its North American recovery program, with General Motors vice president Brent Dewar reporting that the company is on track to sell 3 million vehicles in the U.S. this year, virtually unchanged from 2005, when sales got a boost from massive incentive programs.

With monthly year-over-year numbers down in the summer months, when 2005's incentive programs were in full swing, GM is expecting strong growth through the rest of the year, driven by its new SUVs and trucks (and their high profit margins). GM is also making progress on reducing its dependence on incentives to juice sales - the automaker reports that 2006 incentives are down an average of $900 per vehicle.

With two key new models launching in the near future, the Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra, the company is expecting another boost in the truck segment, aided by its new five-year, 100,000 mile powertrain warranty program.

[Source: Reuters]

GM expects 2006 to be a solid year originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 13 Sep 2006 13:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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